Dear Sir,
For the centenary of the WWI we are preparing an exhibtion in our community. During my research I came to read the story of your father. In november 1918 he was based in Cognelée close to our village. Cognelée was a German air base for Zeppelins. Pictures of the sheds can be found on the net. In November 1918 we can see pictures of German airplanes captured or given as war damages.
Our generation is very far from that time (I am 45 ). But we really want to thank you for what your father and his generation did for the us. We will always remember.
Wishing you all the best for 2014,
Vincent ALLARD
Fernelmont Belgium.
Vincent subsequently sent me this map of the Zeppelin hangars at Cognelée
In the Australian War Memorial collection there is this photo of captured German Fokker aircraft parked in a Zeppelin hanger at Namur (presumably the same place as Cognelée).
And this photo of a German AEG bomber at Cognelée.
Vincent wrote—
A few words about the exhibition of our community. Fernelmont is located north of Namur and the PFN (Position Fortifiée de Namur). As you may know, the key to getting into neutral Belgium was the PFL (Position Fortifiée de Liège). The first shock happened there with a direct attack by the German army. Surprised by the resistance of the city, the Germans than used heavy artillery (350mm and 420mm howitzers) to destroy the forts. In Namur, with the experience of Liège, they used this artillery first to destroy the forts. This artillery was located on the soil of our community. They entered the city by exploding the forts of Marchovelette and Cognelée. They than ran to the sea before turning south in front of France. France who stabilised the front with the help of England.
Much more can be seen about the Zeppelin hangars at Cognelée here.
Peter Facey, Winchester, England
20141027 Link to 1914-18.be added
20140108 originated